To end any and all speculation, the Texas Rangers made it official on Friday after it was reported newly signed free agent Shin-Soo Choo had passed his physical earlier this week after agreeing to terms with the Rangers in a deal that is reportedly worth $130 million over seven years.
Choo was introduced to local media on Friday afternoon and most likely completes any major moves the Rangers' front office will make this winter after the club traded Ian Kinsler for slugger Prince Fielder back in November.
Choo gives the Rangers one of the league's best leadoff hitters, a guy who routinely gets on base at a better-than-40-percent clip and led baseball with a .423 on-base percentage a year ago.
Of course, the physical seems like it was a formality but it doesn't always work that way.
Remember, just last offseason, the Boston Red Sox had agreed to a big deal with former Rangers catcher Mike Napoli, only to see it fall through after he failed his physical. He later signed a much shorter, cheaper contract. Just last week, former A's closer Grant Balfour's deal with the Baltimore Orioles fell through because of a problem with his physical, and now the Orioles have said they won't sign him, so Balfour is on the market again.
So count your blessings, Rangers fans. Things don't always work out as planned in these cases, but it worked out just fine for the Rangers and Choo.
